ROSEBURG, Oregon – As Umpqua Community College (UCC) further commits to improving student success, the College has introduced a new resource in the hiring of Student Service’s new Life Coach, Anita Louise.

The life-coaching services provided to students include; short-term personal and career counseling, academic advising, and other forms of student support.

Anita’s journey to becoming a Life Coach started in Michigan where she grew up. As part of a working class community, Anita had the support of a couple of teachers who went the extra mile to recognize her strengths and support her when she experienced difficulty. This continued when she was the first person in her family to go to college. A couple of her professors took her under their wing and introduced her to possibilities she did not know were open to her.

Anita moved to Oregon after receiving her master’s degree from Michigan State University. Her job history includes working as a counselor for teenage runaways and their families, a clinical coordinator for a pregnant and parent teens program, a family therapist, a behavioral consultant, and a child development specialist.

Anita believes she is living a life she never could have imagined when she was growing up. She sees her new position as UCC’s Life Coach as an opportunity to give back what was given to her by the teachers and professors who went the extra mile to support and encourage her. They have given her their legacy of hope. She wants to be an inspiration of hope and possibility for UCC students.

About Umpqua Community College

Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities.